AS 214.356 - Science and Heresy in Galileo's Italy

Institution:

Johns Hopkins University

Subject:

Description:

The class will be conducted in English. In the wake of Copernicus, the still dominant geocentric model of the cosmos was challenged in Italy by two equally brilliant but very different thinkers: Giordano Bruno, iconoclastic philosopher and theorist of magic, and Galileo Galilei, who has been called the “father of modern science.” Both of these revolutionary intellectuals faced strong opposition from within the Catholic Church: Bruno was executed as a heretic, while Galileo was forced to formally recant his heliocentric views. We will study the principal writings of both thinkers, focusing on both the literary qualities and the historical context of their works. We will also examine the cosmological visions of earlier writers, including Dante. Additional section will be offered for Italian majors (and others with a strong command of the language) in which we will read and discuss texts in Italian.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.jhu.edu

Phone Number:

(410) 516-8000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

The Course Profile information is provided and updated by third parties including the respective institutions. While the institutions are able to update their information at any time, the information is not independently validated, and no party associated with this website can accept responsibility for its accuracy.